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Coleus (Coleus x hybridus) is an annual valued for its brilliantly colored foliage in shades of burgundy, pink, red, yellow, green and bronze. Sizes of coleus plants vary from smaller varieties that grow to heights of 12 inches to bushy types that reach heights and widths of 3 feet or more. Although the spiky blooms that appear in autumn aren't particularly attractive, you can harvest the seeds inside the blooms and save them for planting the following spring.

1

Tie a colorful string or yarn around one or two of the healthiest coleus plants. When the plants begin to fade in autumn, the string will remind you which are the strongest plants.

2

Harvest seeds when the petals have dropped from the flowers and the remaining seed pods are plump, dry and brown.

3

Snip the seed pod with scissors or garden shears. Drop the pods into a paper sack.

4

Place the sack in a cool, dry location. Shake the sack every day to keep the seeds from sticking together. Shaking the sack also promotes even drying.

5

Allow the seeds to dry for at least two weeks or until the seeds are completely dry. To check for dryness, press your fingernail into a seed. A dry seed will crack or break. If the seeds aren't dry, check again in two more weeks. Seeds that aren't completely dry are likely to rot.

6

Pour the contents of the sack on a shallow dish or tray and use tweezers to pick out the leaves and other plant debris.

7

Place the seeds in a paper envelope. Write the date and type of seeds on the envelope. Never store seeds in plastic, as the seeds may mold.

About the Author

M.H. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing.